There are always times when we wonder how age will change us. Indeed, we may lose some of our youth, but our lives can be worn in beautiful ways. Take a look at these 45 celebrities aging in style and can look back on their successful careers with pride.
If you want to know which stars have glowed even brighter as they have gotten older, then you'll have to keep looking. Some have faded or burned bright early, while others have had a steady light. Take a look!
Ann-Margret – Born In 1941
Ann-Margret started making a name for herself in the acting scene during the '60s. Before that, she pursued singing. If Elvis Presley was regarded as the King of Rock, then she is the Queen of Rock. She has been one of the most successful musicians in the industry.
She had quite a few memorable roles in "Carnal Knowledge," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Bye Bye Birdie." It is not hard to see why people adore the super talented Sweden-born star. In 2021, you can catch her in a performance of "Queen Bee's."
Tim Matheson – Born In 1947
We first noticed the actor Tim Matheson when he starred in National Lampoon's "Animal House," which would become a hugely successful comedy. He gained even more fame when he landed a role in "The West Wing." From there, he even got nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for his sterling performances.
Even though he is not aging backward, he isn't turning his back on his acting career yet. His last acting performance was on an episode of "This Is Us" in 2021. To keep a foot in the game, he also does voice-acting.
Barbara Walters – Born In 1929
Barbara Walters is best known as the creator behind the hugely successful show called "The View." As a former broadcast journalist for shows like ACB's "Evening News" and "Today," she is also a pioneer. She is the first evening news anchor of an evening and morning show who is a woman.
With that kind of confidence, she also hosted "The View" for over a decade. She has been retired since 2014, so we have not heard much from her as she gets older. Still, with "The View" going strong in 2021, we can nod at one of the lasting features of her legacy.
Roberta Flack - Born In 1937
Roberta Flack has been singing for decades. And lucky us, since we have been fans ever since we heard "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." She did not go the solo route but was also willing to collaborate. She famously worked with Donny Hathaway, with the hit duets of "The Closer I Get to You" and "Where Is The Love."
Her place in music history was truly secured when she took home the Grammy for The Record of the Year back-to-back. She is retired, and a stroke in 2016 has kept her from singing publicly but was given a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2020.
Dick Van Dyke – Born In 1925
When Dick Van Dyke entered the mainstream in the '60s, it was as the star of the show that he hosted called "The Dick Van Dyke Show." From being the star of his show, he played memorable roles in the iconic films of "Mary Poppins" and "Bye Bye Birdie."
He is still around, though, which probably owes him overcoming two serious vices:s smoking and drinking. With a healthy body and mind, he remains a respectable showman. You can catch him handing out cash to job seekers in Malibu in 2021 due to the pandemic.
Tippi Hedren – Born In 1930
Tippi Hedren was first discovered as a model, where she achieved some success by being featured in Glamour magazine. She used that as a foundation to gt a role in a Hollywood film called "The Birds." For that performance, she won a Golden Globe.
We still remember some of her other notable projects, like "Citizen Ruth" and "I Heart Huckabees." Though she rarely takes on other big projects, it seems she is in the news in 2021, not for her work but for what happened to her. Dakota Johnson, her granddaughter, has come out guns blazing against the way Alfred Hitchcock treated Hedren.
Chris Evert Lloyd – Born In 1954
Chris Evert is one of the best female tennis players to have ever graced the game of tennis. She has an incredible 18 Grand Slams to her name and was the world's best women's player for five consecutive years, totaling 260 weeks at the top. She was inaugurated at the International Tennis Hall of Fame for her achievements.
In 2021, she remains busy as a sports commentator and an ESPN analyst. In 2021, she said that Novak Djokovic is the Greatest Male Tennis Player of All Time, which is a controversial statement.
Eric Clapton – Born In 1945
Eric Clapton has brought tears to many hardened men for his classic hit, "My Father's Eyes," winning a Grammy Award. He has been a part of many notable bands, including "Blind Faith," "The Yardbirds," and "Cream." He has also had a remarkable solo career.
In 2021, it is sad to see that one of the greats has fallen from grace somewhat for his shoot-from-the-hip comments. Rolling Stone in 2021 reported that he is not only anti-vaccines but more controversially has parroted Donald Trump's view on race in the United States.
Cheryl Ladd – Born In 1951
Cheryl Ladd became a widely recognized name for her role in the '70s version of "Charlie's Angels." Although she was not in the first season, she appeared to be an excellent replacement for Farrah Fawcett-Majors. After the show ended in the '80s, she performed in "Poison Ivy" and "Permanent Midnight."
What we can be sure about is that she has resisted the turns of aging and still looks as fabulous as she did in "Purple Hearts." Though her career is cooling down, in 2021, she was interviewed by Fox News on the pause she has taken in the pandemic to spend time with her family.
Loni Anderson – Born In 1945
Loni Anderson is not one to shy away from spilling the Indus-tea in Hollywood. In a 2021 interview with Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen," she described a kiss with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He went for realism, and she said she was a bit upset when the director cut the scene.
She is not just a pretty face and has been nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe. While she is not working as much as she used to, we can still remember her from "3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain."
Paul Hogan – Born In 1939
Paul Hogan worked very hard as an actor, and for his hard work, he has been rewarded. Many people do not know that his breakthrough role in "Crocodile Dundee" was influenced by his contribution to the plot and the screenplay. He earned the award for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.
Since then, he has steadily added to his bank balance but was cut in half by his divorce in 2014 from his co-star in Linda Kozlowski. In 2021, he decided to return to his native Australia after he cited a rise in crime in Los Angeles.
Betty White – Born In 1922
Betty White, lest we forget, is an absolute pioneer and a show-stopper in the acting world. In her outstanding performances for shows like "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," she earned an incredible eight Emmy Awards. She was the first-ever female to get to work behind the camera as a producer.
Though she does not work as much anymore, she has been interviewed for the secrets behind how she has managed to live as long as she has. In 2021, CNN asked in an interview, and she replied that a good sense of humor makes a big difference.
Ali MacGraw – Born In 1939
Not everyone wants to stay in show business, and Ali McGraw is one such person. She caught everyone's attention in "Goodbye Columbus" in the '60s because her performance led to the award for Most Promising Newcomer at the Golden Globes. She even became an A-lister after her roles in "The Getaway" and "Love Story."
She cast her final role in 1997 for the film "Glam." It was much to everyone else's surprise, but now she lives away from the glitz in New Mexico as a devotee of Hatha Yoga.
Barbara Eden – Born In 1931
And then others try to stay in the acting scene for as long as possible, no matter how old they get. Enter Barbara Eden, who has lived longer than most and is still working. In 2021, she is co-writing a children's book called "Barbara And The Djinn," which follows a little girl who meets a Genie that takes her on adventures.
When they hear her name, most will remember her iconic role in the show called "I Dream Of Jeannie." This, interestingly, is where she played an entertaining Genie for five years while she worked on numerous films.
Max Baer Jr. – Born In 1937
Max Baer Jr. might've gone to Santa Clara University to study business, but he found himself pursuing a career in show business. The most prominent role he had in his entire career was in the sitcom called The Beverly Hillbillies. His run on the show lasted for nine years, appearing in 273 episodes.
In a 2021 interview for PEOPLE, he was asked why he did not box like his father. He said that boxing was a religious thing since it was always better to give than to receive, and he is not a religious kinda guy.
Jenna Jameson – Born In 1974
If you are a fan of adult entertainment, then no doubt you have heard of the infamous Jenna Jameson. She has often been likened to the most famous adult entertainer in the world, even though she no longer works on-camera, so to speak. She has over 35 adult-video awards.
After retiring as an actress, she founded her own company in 2000 called ClubJenna, which began her commercial empire. Sadly, in 2021, she is all over the news for claims against one of her exes, Marilyn Manson (who is also in hot water due to an accusation from another partner).
Patrick Wayne – Born In 1939
It was not a surprise to fans when Patrick Wayne entered the Hollywood scene as the son of late Hollywood legend John Wayne. Even though Patrick was studying, he would act full-time, doing 11 movies with his father and 40 throughout his career.
Rather than commanding a role on screen, in the '80s, he stepped into the role of host. We have seen him in the likes of "The Monte Carlo Show" and "Tic-Tac-Dough." His last acting project was a film in 1997 called "Deep Cover," and, apart from the occasional appearance, we know he spends his time managing his father's cancer institute in 2021.
Bob Barker – Born In 1923
Bob Barker is one of those few who have mastered the move from solider to the actor. After working in the navy during the Second World War, he found his passion for radio. He even relocated to California so he could do more work there.
The trajectory of his life changed when he became the host of "The Price Is Right." He hosted the program for more than three decades, making him one of the most successful show hosts in the history of show business. In 2021, he gave a rare interview with PEOPLE reminiscing on his role there.
Clu Gulager – Born In 1928
Clu Gulager was a TV man, finding success in "The Tall Man" and "The Virginian." From his memorable roles there, he set himself up to become an even more famous film star. After stellar performances in hit horrors like "A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge" and "The Return of the Living Dead," he became well-known.
His last performance was in "Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street," which is a documentary that examines the influence of the massive horror franchise on popular culture. We haven't heard much from him since then.
Michael J. Fox – Born In 1961
Michael J. Fox's career began in the '70s, where his reputation steadily became more impressive as he portrayed Alex P. Keaton on "Family Ties." He has had memorable performances in several other series, including "Spin City" and "Teen Wolf."
Yet, it was his reputation as someone who was acting even while he had Parkinson's disease. There were many ways the camera crew tried to hide it, and he only went public in the '90s. In 2021, the Michael J. Fox Foundation is an important venture to try and find a cure for the illness.
UQ Michael Learned – Born In 1939
Actress Michael Learned won people's hearts with her fantastic performance in the series called The Waltons. Her success in the role led to winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series four times over her career. Only Tyne Daly has won it as many times.
We have not heard much from her since her last performance for "Second Acts," a short film in 2018.
Jamie Farr – Born In 1934
Jamie Farr is no longer in his prime, but he was at his best as the cross-dressing corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger. It turned out to be his most iconic role for the M*A*S*H TV series, and he would remain a hit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985.
We have not heard much from him since his role in "The Cool Kids" in 2019. However, in 2021, he met Rikishi, a famous WWE Wrestler, who revealed that Farr was a fan of professional wrestling when the two had a chat at the Steel City Comic Con in Pittsburgh.
Leonard Whiting – Born In 1950
Leonard Whiting had a passion for acting that started very early since he would perform at the church he went to. As a hard-working child singer, he would win talent shows and perform in plays. He got his seriously big break in the 1968 version of "Romeo and Juliet." He won the Golden Globe for New Star of The Year for the role.
Yet, he does not seem to have reached the heights his potential suggested he would. He stopped working in the 2000s to focus on writing and made a brief comeback in 2015 for "Social Suicide," a romantic psychological thriller. We haven't heard much from him since then.
Barry Manilow – Born In 1943
Barry Manilow may have lost a bit of the youth on his face, but he has certainly not lost the gold in his voice. He has been in the music industry for more than six decades and has earned his weight in gold from the earnings he has made from more than 85 million record sales.
In 2020, he churned out number 36 on the top-20 Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart called "When The Good Times Come Again." So the man is still rocking in his older age! How does he keep doing it? You can find out at Westgate, Las Vegas, in 2021.
Bob Eubanks – Born In 1938
Bob Eubanks is an actor-cum-show host. He worked as an actor and a producer in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" and then became the host of "The Newlywed Game." He also hosted "Card Sharks," which got revamped in the '80s. He got married to Deborah James in 2004, who is 29 years younger than him.
For his role as a host, he was awarded his star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a proud recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award. He has stopped hosting in 2021 but makes occasional appearances on "Daily Blast Live."
Willie Mays – Born In 1931
Frank Sinatra said to Willie Mays that if he could sing as well as Mays could play baseball, then he would be a happy man. So good was Mays that he established a 22 season dynasty in the MLB for San Francisco Giants. He immediately made a name for himself and later was elected to the Hall of Fame.
In 2015, Mays was awarded the honor of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mays has now retired since his body is not able to handle very much. In 2021, he is resting as the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame.
Lee Majors – Born In 1939
"The Big Valley" was not some National Geographic nature flick but the first TV series that starred Lee Majors. Major would rise in fame for his role in "The Six Million Dollar Man," an American science fiction TV series, which follows an astronaut with cybernetic body parts played by Majors. Another famous role was in "The Fall Guy," which was a story about a stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter.
Majors also has some fairly significant body problems that might have cut his career short, but he has still managed to keep working up to 2021, where he will feature in "Narco Sub."
George Hamilton – Born In 1939
Some people seem to get younger as they get older. George Hamilton started as an innocuous lad but now has style and panache in abundance despite getting on in age. What has remained consistent is his charming smile as he has moved through his acting career, which began in the '50s.
In a 2021 interview for Los Angeles Times, he could reflect on his career and the influence that "The Godfather Part III" would have on it. He was asked what he has learned about life, and Hamilton replied that a sense of style and humor matter significantly.
Tina Louise - Born In 1934
"Gilligan's Island," on the one hand, follows seven people who have been shipwrecked and try to unsuccessfully escape and, on the other, stars Tina Louise. We would still have to wait a little while for her breakthrough role, which was "God's Little Acre." She would earn a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year.
She certainly cooled down her working hours as she got older, with 2019 being her last appearance in either TV or film in "Tapestry," which followed the story of a man in a deep spiritual crisis. In 2021, she is the last castaway still alive.
Bob Newhart – Born In 1929
Bob Newhart is the classic funny man. He once said that he does not like country music and doesn't mean to denigrate those who do. And, he goes on, for those that like country music, denigrate means "put down." Those kinds of jokes filled his successful albums like "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" and "The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back."
In 2021, he still somehow manages to keep himself in show business and even made appearances on "Conan" and "SiriusXM." Even in his elderly age, he has still got that characteristic wit.
Stefanie Powers – Born In 1942
Stefanie Powers took a full decade to work through the '60s to get her big break in the '70s. She began starring in "Hart to Hart," a mystery television series where she starred. Her performances led to a litany of awards and earned her several major nominations, including a whopping five Golden Globes and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
She has been quiet in 2021, with her last film appearance being "The Artist's Wife" in 2020. However, she has been featured in "On The Verge" in 2021, so she has not disappeared quite yet.
Tina Turner – Born In 1939
Tina Turner was initially introduced into the music scene by her then-husband, Ike Turner. Together, they had a couple of hit singles, like "Proud Mary" and "A Fool in Love." However, only once they got divorced did Turner hit the music stratosphere or have the Midas touch. As a sign of her success, her songs are most likely in the back of all our minds.
In 2021, we can all witness the bio-documentary, "TINA," where we can get more insight into the songwriting process and how they touched on some of the tragic features of her life. Undoubtedly she is always an inspiration.
Billy Dee Williams – Born In 1937
Billy Dee Williams was a pioneer in an unlikely scene, being the sci-fi film genre. He was the first African-American to have ever been cast as a member of a major franchise, the one in question being "Star Wars" who gave justice to Lando Calrissian.
And he has enjoyed a long and stellar time with the film franchise, making his first appearance in the '80s and then landing a role in 2019's "Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker." In 2021, he did voice work for the upcoming "Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga" video game.
Fabio Lanzoni – Born In 1959
Fabio Lanzoni was the sexiest man alive for two decades. He served as a cover model for so many romance novels that he has become synonymous with "Dream Man" status. Almost any woman on the planet would have loved to be in his arms.
And yet, in 2021, he has opened up that he is still looking for love. Yes, the God of Romance is single! How does that happen? Well, perhaps there is such a thing as too many choices, and how that means you end up not making any.
James Spader – Born In 1960
Seeing James Spader makes us immediately think of his irrepressible role as Robert California in "The Office." He is so intimidating that all the characters refer to him using his full name. Is it a coincidence that he was the voice of Ultron in the Marvel movies? We think not. Yet his role in "Boston Legal" was where he earned multiple awards.
He has been a very busy man in the last decade. In 2021, he played another enigmatic character on another hit show called "The Blacklist," but there are speculations that he might leave. Catch him before he does!
Harry Belafonte – Born In 1927
When you hear Harry Belafonte, then you hear the name of one of the most successful Jamaican-American singers who brought his local genre Calypso to every shore of the English-speaking world in the '50s. For his work, he earned the nickname 'King of Calypso.'
Belafonte is also really well-known for his political and humanitarian advocacy. He was a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and was even a confidant of Martin Luther King's. In 2021, he supports several charitable organizations and is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
Al Pacino – Born In 1940
Al Pacino has been an icon in Hollywood for so long that people forget he first made waves on the stage! After all, he has won two Tony Awards for his work. Yet the role that would truly launch him into stardom was in "The Godfather" films.
Pacino is not going anywhere anytime soon, despite a career that stretches over a few decades. In 2021, he finally decided to play the role he believed he was born for: "King Lear." He also has other projects in the pipeline, but we hope that he can handle that enormously demanding role.
Diana Ross – Born In 1944
We know Diana Ross as part of "The Supremes," which was a mega-band in the '60s. They had twelve #1 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100. When The Supremes ended up disbanding in the '70s, Ross would go on to become one of the United States' biggest R&B stars, releasing hit album after hit album.
She's won seven American Music Awards, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. If you think she's in retirement, think again. She's currently getting set for the tour of her 2021 album "Thank You."
Susan Dey – Born In 1952
In 2021, Susan Dey is almost invisible since her last job on either film or television was in 2004 for the TV series "Third Watch." She was the star of the series "The Patridge Family." She did enough of a good job there to be remembered as a star.
For her work, she has a stunning collection of nominations. She has been nominated for the Golden Globe Award six times and three times for an Emmy Award. What's she doing after retirement? According to reports, she's now living her life peacefully with her spouse in New York.
Glenn Close - Born In 1947
If you liked Emma Stone, the star of "La La Land," as the title character in the 2021 movie "Cruella," then we are sure you will like the real OG: Glenn Close. She portrayed Cruella DeVille in the classic '90s movie "101 Dalmatians." It was not her most iconic role; since she has been in the game from as early as her 20s, she's had quite a few.
She has impressively bagged awards from prestigious bodies like Tony, Golden Globe, and Emmy. Close doesn't seem to be retiring soon because of the slew of her upcoming projects. She will be seen as Dr. Scott in the 2021 movie "Swan Song."
Shirley MacLaine – Born In 1934
Shirley MacLaine is what you would call a Hollywood veteran. Her acting career has spanned for as many decades as a reasonable long life, having captured your attention with movies like "Around the World in 80 Days," "Steel Magnolias," and "The Little Mermaid."
We noticed that she tends to play unusual or stubborn characters, but that typecast has earned her an Oscar, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globes. She shows no signs of slowing down too much as she was spotted in 2021 enjoying a Martini at Al Fresco in Malibu and has all sorts of projects on the go in 2021.
Ruth Buzzi – Born In 1936
Ruth Buzzi is born with the gift for making people laugh, as we saw in "The Steve Allen Comedy Hour" and "The Garry Moore Show." Her knack expressed itself on her turn in the "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," where she became genuinely famous. In 2021, you can catch her on "One Month Out."
She recently tweeted that she had a senior citizen's joke, but it has slipped our mind. She made another joke that, according to Bob Ross, her Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress was not a mistake, just a happy accident.
Emma Thompson - Born In 1959
Emma Thompson was born into the acting world since she comes from a family of actors and actresses. She followed the same path and now has several accolades from Golden Gloves to Oscars under her belt. After graduating from college, she started her acting career in 1987 on the series called "Fortunes of War."
Fast forward to 2021, and Thompson continues to take the industry by storm. After playing The Baroness in the 2021 picture "Cruella, she will next be seen as the mean headmistress Miss Trunchbull in "Matilda."
Connie Stevens – Born In 1938
Connie Stevens was young and dangerous in the '50s and aptly made her debut "Young and Dangerous." The massive success she encountered as Cricket Blake in the series "Hawaiian Eye" and her wonderful radio hit called "Sixteen Reasons."
Stevens wanted to let her talent blossom as powerfully as it could. Over the years, has added the feathers of producing, screenwriting, cinematography, and directing. Her last job was in 2019 for a film called "By the Rivers of Babylon." Since then, we have not heard much from her in 2021.
Sharon Stone – Born In 1958
If there is anyone who puts the 'fatale' in femme fatale, it is Sharon Stone. She was immortalized for her master manipulation technique in "Basic Instinct," which became a cult classic. She made it into several other cult movies, like "Casino" and "Deadly Blessing."
Stone is a talented actress in her own right and is not merely good-looking. In 2021 she won the Golden Icon Award at the Zurich Film Festival. If you want to catch some of her most recent work, try out "Here Today," which puts Stone in a rather different light!